The 22-year-old Scott declined to comment after his hearing. However, his attorney, H. Wallace Parker, said he will not be dropping out of the race for District 5 commissioner.

"Why would he do that?" Parker said. "The thought has never occurred to me, nor him, I'm sure."

Scott and his attorney stood before District Judge Jodi Debbrecht and listened to the charges. Debbrecht granted Scott a personal bond of $10,000 and set a pretrial hearing for Oct. 23 before District Judge Richard D. Kuhn Jr.

Scott stood mute when charges against him were read. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

As of right now, Debbrecht said, Scott is "cloaked in innocence."

Parker said the whole matter has to be worked through.

"Mr. Scott made arrangements to get this matter started to be able to get rid of it. Obviously, this is all political," he said.

Scott -- an Eastern Michigan University student -- will await his upcoming hearing and contemplate the charges against him while anticipating the election.

The charge, with the technical term "nominating/initiative petitions -- false statement/circulation," is a misdemeanor punishable by 93 days in jail.

Parker said it would be illogical to secure petitions and go through election proceedings only to drop out.

Incumbent commissioner John A. Scott said his challenger signed as a circulating petitioner in several instances while allegedly not being present during the actual circulation.

Commissioner Scott also implicated his other opponent, Democrat Alexandria T. Riley, in his own investigation, saying she must have been involved in some way.

Riley denies Scott's allegations outright.

"These are just malicious rumors, and they are false," she said. "I did not retain Mr. Parker for legal counsel and I wasn't involved at all."

Riley also said Commissioner Scott has accused her of using her vehicle during the petition circulation for challenger Scott. She said that isn't true.

As far as her further involvement in this case, Riley said she has talked to a detective and will continue to cooperate with authorities.

There's just not a lot to say, she concluded.

"It's unfortunate. I'm not sure what transpired with the other John Scott, but it's unfortunate," Riley said.